Sep/Oct 2004 Graybeards - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

More documents

Recommendations

Info

74 T. J., John Q., and Al Marchetto: Irony In Death Marchetto had long held a desire to hold the American flag in a ceremony, but he had never been given the opportunity. He got his first chance on June 14th, 2004, when he held the flag during a Flag Day ceremony at a state cemetery in Massachusetts. Al Marchetto, left, holding the flag at the June 14th ceremony at the Veterans’ Cemetery in Agawam, MA. Next to him, L-R, are Earl Gregory, George Bratneau, Ken Usher, Al Arpin, and Jerry Roy Thomas Jefferson, John Q. Adams, and Al Marchetto, a recently deceased member of Western Massachusetts Chapter (2000), shared two things in common: they all served their country enthusiastically, and they died under ironic circumstances—and on the same day. Jefferson and Adams both died on July 4, 1826, fifty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. (Actually, only two people really signed the document that day, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. The rest of the signers were off on a long holiday weekend, so most of them did not sign the document until August 2nd, 1776.) Marchetto died on July 4th as well— July 4th, 2004. Marchetto had long held a desire to hold the American flag in a ceremony, but he had never been given the opportunity. He got his first chance on June 14th, 2004, when he held the flag during a Flag Day ceremony at a state cemetery in Massachusetts. It pleased him so much that he requested to hold the flag again, this time in the 4th of July parade in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Chapter 2000 Commander Albert Arpin was glad to oblige. Marchetto carried the flag proudly that day. About a quarter-mile into the parade, there was a pause. Someone asked Al if he was all right. He said, “Yes, but I need a little water.” It was quickly supplied to him. He was not going to let a little thirst stop him from carrying the flag in that parade. As the grateful Marchetto noted, he had to keep marching. It was an honor he had always wanted. The parade stepped off again. Al took a few steps—and fell over. He never regained consciousness. Al Marchetto was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. A few days after his death, the following letter appeared in an Enfield, Connecticut, newspaper. It was a fine tribute to Marchetto—and to Korean veterans in general. Remember those who fight On July 4 [2004], I left my home in Enfield [CT] and went to East Longmeadow, Mass., to watch the parade to help me and thousands of others show our respect and pride for the men and women who have fought and died for our freedoms. Shortly after the parade started, one of the first groups past us was the Korean War veterans and their float. I could not help but notice the few captions on the float. One of the captions was “The Forgotten War.” Underneath this slogan was the vivid reminder that there were 33,600 soldiers killed and 92,000 wounded and 4,800 missing in action. As the float passed, I watched my fatherin-law, a lieutenant colonel, take his hat off and, with tears in his eyes, salute and thank the marchers walking directly behind this float. The lead marcher looked back and nodded his head in acknowledgement of my father-in-law’s thank you. He mentioned the hundreds of military personnel that have been lost in Iraq. The news is full of how horrific this war is. Every war is horrific. Each and every loss is horrific. As I looked at the aging marchers walking behind this float, one specific gentleman came to mind. He was walking with two metal arm crutches that gripped his forearms. I could not help but think that every day I complain about “how bad my life is.” Then, I think about this veteran and his pride and commitment to our freedom. Within seconds after this marcher walked by, my eyes refocused to the lead marcher as he fell to the pavement. I quickly dialed 911 on my cell phone, told the dispatcher the urgency of the call, and went over to this veteran to see if I could be of assistance. By the time I. got back, a crowd of trained people from the side of the parade had already begun CPR. On that day (our Independence Day) this brave man died. I heard a friend of his in the crowd say that he was offered a ride, and he said, “No thank you. I will walk.” This veteran, who was too proud to ride in an automobile, wanted to walk with his comrades, one of them on crutches. I don’t think I will ever feel the same about our veterans again. This man, this veteran, this man who risked his life for our country, wanted to march again. This man will march forever in my memory. I will forever remember those September - October 2004 The Graybeards
who serve to protect our country. I won’t forget Sept. 11. I will never again slander our leadership, [which] may not be able to release to the public information that would work against us. I will, in the spirit of patriotism, respect the things that we cannot always understand. I believe there is a reason for all things. I believe this man had a desire to march again to show his pride in our country. I didn’t know this man. I’ll never forget these men. Alan Lanouette, Enfield [CT] Marchetto may not have achieved in his lifetime the same historical status that Messrs. Jefferson and Adams did, but he died the same way they did: honoring their country—and being honored by it as well. And, they all died on July 4th! What a classic case of irony! GOING BACK from page 70 I welled up once again as each man was called and the ribboned medal was tenderly placed around his neck. I’m glad I made this trip. I know why I came. It wasn’t just for the ride. I came to be with my husband and the men who fought with him. I came to honor these valiant “graybeard” veterans, and I delighted in seeing them acknowledged and appreciated for what they did. I even understood to some degree why they were here. They were soldiers who fought together for their country, each in his own way, each having personal moments and memories they will never forget. They had all left behind some memories, so part of them is still here. They came back to reconnect, they came back to remember, they came back to finish their own unfinished business. As I write this piece, President Bush is preparing to go to Normandy for the anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944. Thousands of veterans will be returning to the beaches where they came ashore 60 years ago. I can’t help but think of our men and women in Iraq. Where will they be 50 or 60 years from now? Will they go back? Will they be visiting Baghdad trying to remember and trying to piece together the time they spent there? Is this what soldiers do? I’ll stop here and let the reader answer that individually. Last Call All of us in the Korean War Veterans Association extend our sincere sympathy to the families and friends of those listed below. May they rest in peace. ALABAMA ✯ Schowalter, Edward R., Jr. (Colonel, Ret.) MO H CALIFORNIA ✯ Johnson, Franklin D. ✯ Carlson, R. Wayne ✯ Glover, David R. ✯ Ratcliff, George ✯ Rojas, Lenard R. CONNECTICUT ✯ Stein, Bernard G. ✯ Wilson, James D. DELAWARE ✯ Rossiter, Martin J. FLORIDA ✯ Broom, William C. ✯ Burton, Charles A., Sr. ✯ Gaulin, Emile ✯ Kessler, Kenneth C. ILLINOIS ✯ Brauer, Richard ✯ Cockrell, Floyd E. ✯ Vaughn, Donald E. INDIANA ✯ D’Angelo, Salvatore (“Sam”) ✯ Ittenback, John KENTUCKY ✯ Bowman, Robert H. LOUISIANA ✯ Crawford, John D., Jr. MAINE ✯ Drake, Richard MARYLAND ✯ Atkins, Robert E. ✯ Schneider, Hubert G. MASSACHUSETTS ✯ Whittaker, Arthur MISSOURI ✯ Kibbey, Cecil L. ✯ King, Paul ✯ Sharp, Jack ✯ Vine, Edward NEVADA ✯ McHugh, Gerald J. ✯ Ream, Harley M NEW HAMPSHIRE ✯ Campbell, William F. NEW JERSEY ✯ Dallas, Willard E. ✯ Fallon, Francis ✯ Francavilla, Ernest ✯ Messina, Edward ✯ Santelli, Robert J. ✯ Schutz, Wilbur L. ✯ Schwankert, Albert C. W. NEW MEXICO ✯ Burris, Lloyd L. NEW YORK ✯ Becker, Fritz T. ✯ Haynes, James E. ✯ Hess, Edward V. ✯ Mahler, Richard A. ✯ Massiello, Salvatore Death Notice of a Member of KWVA ✯ Orman, William C. ✯ Shapiro, Martin G. ✯ Spinelli, Joseph ✯ Woxholdt, Bernhard NORTH CAROLINA ✯ Campbell, Robert M. OHIO ✯ Bennett, Keith R. Sr. ✯ Cowell, Norman J. ✯ Monaco, John S. OKLAHOMA ✯ Gomez, Joe A. OREGON ✯ Oglesby, Raymond W. ✯ Manning, Lloyd PENNSYLVANIA ✯ Moyer, Charles H. SOUTH CAROLINA ✯ Fletcher, Charles ✯ Wentz, B. A. (“Gus”) WISCONSIN ✯ Hellen, Donald F. TEXAS ✯ Crowder, John C. ✯ Harper, Ernest ✯ Parker, Lee Roy VIRGINIA ✯ Shay, Donald E. UNKNOWN ✯ Cook, Melbourne D. The following notice is submitted for publication: Name of deceased __________________________________________________ Date of death ______________________________________________________ Department/Chapter__________________________________________________ Home of record ____________________________________________________ Army Navy Marine Corps Air Force Coast Guard Other ____________________________________________________________ Primary Unit of service during Korean War Submitted by ______________________________________________________ Relationship to deceased ______________________________________________ Send to: Membership, P.O. Box 10806, Arlington, VA 22210 75 The Graybeards September - October 2004
Page 2 and 3:
The Magazine for Veterans of the Ko
Page 4 and 5:
September/October 2004 CONTENTS 200
Page 6 and 7:
6 The Editor’s Desk Before I make
Page 8 and 9:
Certificate Order Form 8 September
Page 10 and 11:
BUSINESS MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE C
Page 12 and 13:
BUSINESS MINUTES SUMMARY KWVA BOAR
Page 14 and 15:
BUSINESS MINUTES SUMMARY KWVA BOAR
Page 16:
BUSINESS MINUTES SUMMARY KWVA MEMB
Page 19 and 20:
MINUTES SUMMARY KWVA MEMBERSHIP ME
Page 21 and 22:
Faces in the croud.... A Continuity
Page 23 and 24: POW/MIA Update Iam deeply honored t
Page 25 and 26: Bronze Star reqested for Korean War
Page 27 and 28: using his fingernails. But the Nort
Page 29 and 30: got off the M.C. Meigs in Kobe, and
Page 31 and 32: Book Review Carlson, Lewis H., Reme
Page 33 and 34: Korea, Iraq-and Arlington Lapel Pin
Page 35 and 36: LEFT: Chapter 6 veteran and his wif
Page 37 and 38: Injin Chapter President Holtgrewe r
Page 39 and 40: Chapter 126 members have plenty to
Page 41 and 42: ➢ Village of Ridgefield Park’s
Page 43 and 44: 209 Laredo edo, TX 209 The Korean B
Page 45 and 46: The “Big Band” era lives on: Ch
Page 47 and 48: 272 Roc ockford, IL 272 USMC 2nd Lt
Page 49 and 50: Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM)
Page 51 and 52: Dick O’Brien and George Mills Fra
Page 53 and 54: Schools, Principal Courtney, Freepo
Page 55 and 56: Korea: the Forgotten War, Rememberd
Page 57 and 58: Korean War Veterans Memorial—The
Page 59: Something We Can All Relate To Curt
Page 63: Affairs office toll-free at 1-888-6
Page 66 and 67: Search Missions Does Anyone Remembe
Page 68 and 69: 68 GOING BACK TO KOREA THE WAR THEY
Page 70 and 71: 70 action”—but their country ne
Page 72 and 73: Reunion Calendar October 2004 17th
Page 76 and 77: APPLICATION FOR KWVA REVISIT TOURS
Page 78 and 79: 78 September - October 2004 The Gra
Page 80: The Last Battle of Pork P Chop Hill
show all

Sep/Oct 2004 Graybeards - KWVA - Korean War Veterans Association

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?